Would you like to see 2P27 in-game?
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- As an Event Vehicle
- As a Premium Vehicle
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- As a Tech-Tree Vehicle
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2P27 (BRDM-1/AT-1)
The 2P27 was an early Soviet anti-tank guided missile carrier developed to introduce long-range, mobile anti-tank capability to the battlefield. Mounted on the BRDM-1 amphibious scout car, the 2P27 combined the emerging power of guided missiles with the mobility of a light armored vehicle. As one of the earliest operational ATGM carriers, it represents an important step in the evolution of anti-tank warfare during the Cold War. In War Thunder, it would offer players a fast but vulnerable tank destroyer armed with powerful, early-generation missiles.
AT-1 “Snapper” Anti-Tank Missile
Spoiler
At the heart of the 2P27’s firepower was the AT-1 “Snapper”, known in Soviet service as the 3M6 Shmel’ (“Bumblebee”). Developed in the mid-1950s, this first-generation anti-tank missile allowed Soviet forces to engage enemy armor at distances previously unreachable by traditional gunfire. The AT-1 was manually guided (MCLOS), requiring the operator to steer the missile all the way to its target using a joystick. This made it very dependent on operator skill. The manual guidance and slow speed translated to mediocre accuracy in practice; in ideal testing the Snapper could hit targets at range, but on the battlefield its hit probability proved low (on the order of ~25% in actual combat engagements).
The missile itself was large and heavy, weighing approximately 24 kilograms and featuring a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead capable of penetrating around 300 mm of rolled homogeneous armor. Its operational range extended up to 2,000 meters, but it suffered from a significant dead zone, missiles could not be properly guided at targets closer than 500–600 meters. The missile’s flight speed averaged around 100–110 m/s, taking nearly 20 seconds to reach maximum range, giving targets time to react or seek cover. Despite these flaws, the AT-1 provided a lethal punch against most tanks of its era when it managed to score a direct hit.
The Need for a Vehicle Launch Platform
Spoiler
Due to its size and complex guidance system, the AT-1 Snapper was impractical for infantry use. It required substantial setup and operator protection, making a dedicated vehicle a necessity. The first operational launcher, the 2P26, mounted four rear-facing AT-1 missiles on a lightly armored GAZ-69 jeep. However, the 2P26 had major drawbacks: it was exposed, its missiles were vulnerable to enemy fire, and it needed to be maneuvered carefully into position to fire. The limitations of early jeep-based launchers prompted Soviet engineers to look for a better solution. They needed a platform that could carry missiles forward-facing, protect its crew, and offer better battlefield mobility. This led to the development of the 2P27, an improved missile carrier based on the more capable BRDM-1 chassis.
BRDM-1 Chassis and 2P27 Missile Carrier
Spoiler
The BRDM-1 was a light, amphibious reconnaissance vehicle introduced in the late 1950s. Its combination of mobility, amphibious ability, and light armor made it an ideal choice to serve as a missile carrier. The 2P27 variant modified the standard BRDM-1 significantly: the passenger compartment was replaced by a raised armored superstructure housing a retractable three-missile launcher.
In travel mode, the missiles and launcher were hidden beneath armored roof panels, preserving the vehicle’s low profile and protecting the missiles from enemy fire. Once in position, the crew would stop the vehicle, open the deck panels, and elevate the launcher into firing position. The three AT-1 Snapper missiles could then be fired one at a time from the launcher without exposing the crew.
The 2P27 allowed for much faster deployment compared to earlier systems. Its forward-facing missiles eliminated the awkward maneuvering needed by the 2P26, and its enclosed crew compartment meant that the operators could guide missiles in relative safety. However, the 2P27 still had its vulnerabilities: it carried only three missiles with no onboard reloads, and its thin armor left it exposed to anything heavier than rifle fire. After firing, the vehicle was expected to withdraw and rearm from external supply vehicles. Despite its limitations, the 2P27 was a major leap forward in ATGM vehicle design. It demonstrated how a lightly armored platform, armed with guided missiles, could threaten even heavily armored main battle tanks at range.
Specifications (2P27 BRDM-1/AT-1)
Spoiler
- Armament:
- 3 × 3M6 “Shmel” (AT-1 Snapper) missiles on a retractable launcher
- Guidance: Wire-guided (MCLOS)
- Maximum Range: ~2,000 meters
- Minimum Range: ~500 meters
- Penetration: ~300 mm RHA
- Flight Speed: ~100–110 m/s
- Armor:
- Hull: up to 10 mm steel armor
- Protection only against small arms and shell splinters
- Crew:
- 2 (driver and gunner/commander)
- Dimensions:
- Length: ~5.7 meters
- Width: ~2.25 meters
- Height: ~2.3 meters (launcher stowed)
- Mobility:
- Engine: GAZ-40PB 6-cylinder gasoline engine producing 90 hp
- Speed: ~90 km/h on roads, ~9 km/h amphibious
- 4x4 drive with auxiliary retractable belly wheels for trench crossing
- Operational range: ~750 kilometers
- Missile Reloads:
- None carried inside the vehicle; external resupply required
Service History and Operators
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The 2P27 entered Soviet service in the early 1960s, providing long-range anti-tank support to motor rifle regiments. It was usually deployed in dedicated anti-tank platoons. However, with the rapid improvement of ATGM technology, the AT-1 Snapper and its launch vehicles soon became outdated. By the late 1960s, the Soviet Union began replacing the 2P27 with vehicles like the 2P32 (carrying the improved AT-2 “Swatter” missile) and the 9P110 (carrying the AT-3 “Sagger” missile).
Several countries besides the USSR operated the 2P27 or related vehicles:
- Warsaw Pact nations such as East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary
- Egypt, which used Snapper systems during the Six-Day War (1967) and the War of Attrition against Israel
- Syria, which also fielded AT-1 armed vehicles
- Cuba and North Korea, which both reportedly operated and/or copied early Snapper systems
- The Cypriot National Guard, used Snapper missiles during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Combat experience showed that while the 2P27 could destroy tanks if it hit them, the difficulty of guiding the missiles accurately under battlefield conditions, combined with the vulnerability of the vehicle itself, limited its effectiveness. By the mid-1970s, most of these early ATGM carriers were retired or relegated to reserve units.
Implementation
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In War Thunder, the 2P27 could serve well as a premium, event, or squadron vehicle. It would offer a high-risk, high-reward playstyle, relying heavily on stealth, positioning, and precise missile guidance. While it may not be the strongest vehicle in terms of raw battlefield performance, its true value lies in its historical significance. The 2P27 represents not only the first Soviet BRDM-based combat vehicle, but also the introduction of the first Soviet anti-tank guided missile into service, marking an important milestone in Cold War armored warfare.
Disclaimer: All aspects of this suggestion are ultimately up to Gaijin’s discretion to decide and implement. This includes the vehicle’s battle rating (BR) , nation (tree) , stats and visual features.